We consider you a partner in your hospital care. When you are well informed, participate in your treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other health care professionals, you can help make your care as effective as possible. Pointe Coupee General Hospital encourages respect for the personal preferences and the values of each individual. While a patient in the hospital, your rights include the following:

1. You have the right to privacy, to considerate, respectful and safe care and to be free from verbal or physical abuse or harassment.

2. You have the right to choose a personal attending physician.

3. You have the right to be well informed in a language you can understand about your illness, possible treatments, and likely outcome and to discuss this information with your doctor.

4. You have the right to know the names and roles of people treating you.

5. You have the right to refuse treatment and participate in experimental research

6. You have the right to confidentiality of your medical records and the ability to obtain information contained in your records within a reasonable time frame.

7. You have the right to form an Advance Directive, such as a Living Will or Health Care Proxy. These documents express your choices about your future care or name a representative if you cannot speak for yourself. If you have a written Advance Directive, you should provide a copy to the hospital, your family, and your doctor.

8. You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion of any form used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation. Restraints are only used as a last resort to protect a patient from injury as per a doctor's order.

9. You have the right to use personal belongings within reasonable limits that do not pose a safety risk.

SUMMARY OF PRIVACY PRACTICES NOTICE

Pointe Coupee General Hospital implements policies and procedures to accommodate patient privacy rights as required by and specified in the Privacy Rule of the Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Patients cared for by have the following rights with respect to the privacy of their health information:

To receive a paper copy of the agency's Notice of Privacy Practices

To lodge complaints about the agency's privacy practices

To request restrictions on the uses and disclosures of health information

To request to receive confidential communication

To access their protected health information for inspection and/or copying

To amend their health care information

To request an accounting of disclosures of health information

The privacy policies of Pointe Coupee General Hospital detail the requirements for each of these rights and provide procedures for implementation

The following are not explicit requirements of the Privacy Rule but have been added to facilitate compliance efforts at Pointe Coupee General Hospital:

Staff members are provided with annual training regarding patient rights with respect to their health information

Information related to patient privacy rights is included in the orientation program for new staff.

The Patient Rights and Responsibilities Statements include patient privacy rights.

Protecting your confidential health information is of utmost importance to the Hospital Board, Administration, and staff of Pointe Coupee Health Service District 1.

If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, our privacy policies, or if you disagree with a decision we have made about access to your health information, please contact Pointe Coupee General Hospital's Privacy Officer at (225) 638-5787 or send a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.